(CNN) – Citing death threats to his family, Sarah Palin's father said he keeps his guns close at night.

"We sleep with the guns," Chuck Heath said in an interview with the BBC set to air Monday.
Palin's mother, Sally, added she has worried since her daughter, the former Alaska governor, was picked as Sen. John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election, thrusting the family into the national spotlight.

"As a mother I do have concerns about her safety and that of the kids," Sally said. "She knows how I feel, that it's risky."

But Sarah Palin said her family "is pretty thick skinned."

"For the last 20 years in political office our family has put up with a lot of flak," Palin said. "We're still standing and we're doing well, so we're not worried too much about the pressure."

When asked about claims she is not intellectually ready for the White House, Palin pointed to the rumors that surround her, calling them "lies."

"Rumors like I didn't know Africa was a continent, that's still out there, that's a lie," Palin said. "Things like I censored books when I was a mayor up here in Alaska, that's a lie. It's not all you guys, but some of you are saying that Trig [her fifth child] is not mine – that's a sign of a screwed-up media."

soundoff(85 Responses)

[Citing death threats to his family, Sarah Palin's father said he keeps his guns close at night.]
Man, a doggone MOOSE will come in your house looking for his offspring you shot before an intruder!!

And as far as the rumors – YOU did not know Africa was a continent! This is my first time hearing about “censored books” and it was your own co-workers who stressed the fact that they did not know you were pregnant NOR did you show???? Sarah, lies can be debunked!!! But the facts that you were NOT ready to be VP and definitely NOT ready to be P, should be realized!!! You need to STOP blaming others for your own downfall!!!

[“That’s a sign of a screwed-up media”]
Forcing Sarah to look up in the encyclopedia
Everything she talks about to be sure it’s right
That’s what happens when you start out NOT too bright!!!

And I keep my guns close to me too mainly for protection against racists and stupid teatards why is it national news

March 7, 2011 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Dave, Central Illinois

Good for him. If some Lib freak breaks into his house, Chuck can thin the gene pool some.

March 7, 2011 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

WhoLou

"saying that Trig [her fifth child] is not mine – that's a sign of a screwed-up media." No, that is the sign of a screwed up Beauty Pagent Contestant ignoring the evidence of complications with childbirth for older women. Since she never got asked that question before or after her 15 minutes of fame, she still does not know anything about such complications.
Jesus probably told her to keep having babies. You betcha.

March 7, 2011 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

David c.

Sarah, it ain't no lie that you are a money hungry hippo who will never get elected to another office again.

March 7, 2011 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

thomas

"We sleep with the guns," That says it all !

March 7, 2011 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

Anonymous

How nice for him. Cold steel instead of a warm woman. I'm glad i don't like guns

Really CNN, can't you do something with your time other than follow this non-factor of a person like slobbering fawning puppies? No one is going to harm Sarah 'the Big Lie" Palin. She isn't worth the time or the effort, even for the proponents of the far left or right of our population. She is, at best, a laugh. She's harmless. She quirky rants and weird pronouncements only fuel the image that she is utterly unfit for political office. In fact, she's probably unfit for any job that requires thinking. This is a woman who sets pathetically low standards for herself, then fails to live up to them. I believe the high post of Wal Mart greeter is probably about her speed.

March 7, 2011 01:38 pm at 1:38 pm |

Mike, Albany

Maybe if Sarah Palin, herself, stopped spewing her hate filled rhetoric, if she stopped being so polarizing, these threats would not be made. Still, that does not give ANYONE the right to make death threats against anyone else. It's time to ratchet it down. Believe me, Palin's star is already fading. She won't be in the limelight much longer.

March 7, 2011 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |

terry, va

I have no problems with guns. I, in fact have several, and would not hesitate to use one to protect my family. As a matter of fact that is what the military does. We protect our extended family in this country. Semper Fi.

March 7, 2011 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

nate

After watching the caribou "hunt" on Sara Palin's Alaska, I'm pretty certain he'd be safer without a gun, since on that show he used his as a walking stick (amongst other pitiful and unsafe gun handling). For his family's sake I hope he takes a safety class before he starts sleeping with a loaded gun.

March 7, 2011 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |

Marie MD

@nc – you have a list of "qualified" rethugs? You must be ancient because most of the rethugs who would now be considered liberals are all dead and gone!!!

March 7, 2011 01:44 pm at 1:44 pm |

mm

oh, she is too funny.

March 7, 2011 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Papasan in AZ

He sleeps with his Daughter too!

March 7, 2011 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

Cedar Rapids

"that's a sign of a screwed-up media."
so is claiming 'death panels' sarah.

March 7, 2011 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

Got news for you, Sarah, you did flub the questions on basic geography, and people do have a certain expectation for their president. As for the death threats, I would be far more concerned about your friends on the Right who favor these types of solutions, and if you want to discuss garbage accusations, tell your wingnut friends to stop wasting taxpayer money on lawsuits demanding Obama prove he is a citizen. Can you show us the DNA samples that prove Trig is your son? Is he in fact your son, or is he your lovechild by Todd's business partner?WE've al heard the rumors, and since your daughter is of questionable morals, we have every right to ask these questions.

Now, does the Right realize how idiotic that request sounds? That is the level Palin operates on, and whom she caters to. I have no sympathy for her, since she is reaping 2 decades worth of sowing lies and backstabbing people to get where she is. Her dad has proven the apple does not fall far from the tree, and he is a diseased human being if there ever was one. Complete contempt for anyone who does not fit his narrow range of experience. Btw, was'nt one of Sarah's parents a teacher? Can the state of Alaska cut that pension or health benefits, since they already get that nice oil industry shake-down check every year just for being a resident?

March 7, 2011 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

AEK

Although I do not now, nor have I ever given Ms. Palin ANY credit for ANYTHING, I must say that I have been shortsighted in one respect. She has quite a talent for rewriting her own history of saying stupid things. I suspect that even when confronted with video evidence, she would deny most of the incredible things that have come out of her mouth. If she is right about anything, it is true that the media is lame in many ways. For one, they keep reporting on her and her rather unusual family. So woot, woot, you got this one right, Sarah!

March 7, 2011 01:50 pm at 1:50 pm |

Idesign

Interesting how the death threats agaisnt the Palins are not plastered all over the American media, how there is no outrage, and how the threats are not imputed to the entire Democratic Party and left-wing blogosphere,

Where is the media??????

March 7, 2011 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

dumbasrocks [R]s

Mr. Heath should have used the gun about 40 years ago, and put us all out of her misery. Would have saved himself 7 years of college tution.

Also, note how the vacuous cow continues to blame everything on "the media". It used to be "the communists", now the ideological-driven slack-jaws have their new chosen boogey man: the media. That way they don't have to do any hard thinking and analysis to defend their positions or do some thoughtful analysis. This is the new [R] party. And just listen to the vacuous rhetoric emitted by the neo-Teatrolls such ding-dongs elect as leaders. Anybody who identifies themselves a [R] these days admits to being debilitated with a severe disorder.

March 7, 2011 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |

Irma in North Carolina

The whole Palin gang isnt worth shooting. Their all about lies and hate. The way Sarahs parents raised her is shame. To be out their telling lies and spreading hate. Sarah the media isnt screwed. You are the one that is screwed up.

March 7, 2011 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |

Ted

Sarah, your family is thick skinned and may I add thick headed? Can yall just go back to your doublewides with the outdoor plumbing and keep your delusional paranoia to yourselves?

March 7, 2011 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |

Denise

They have always slept with guns. They have taught their daugher everything she believes in about guns. How do you think "GIFFORDS" is doing thanks to what Palin's parents taaught her about guns and how to use them to threaten innocent people. You live by the sword and you die by the sword. You reap what you sow.

March 7, 2011 01:58 pm at 1:58 pm |

Sam

I hope (1) that he doesn't have any grandchildren running around the house in the middle of the night while he's having paranoid dreams and (2) that those guns are unavailable to his grandchildren when he's awake.

March 7, 2011 01:59 pm at 1:59 pm |

willie floyd

As much as I dislike SP I certainly wouldn't be willing to go to jail for murder. She or any of her family members aren't worth it!!